Our Patron

The Hon Chief Justice Robert French AC

"Specific, targeted programs with a narrow focus which are not holistic but have contextual sensitivity may have flow-on results in other areas, and at least help to loosen the tangle of disadvantage. The One Disease organisation, whose present focus is the prevention and treatment of scabies in Aboriginal communities, is an example of that kind of program"

The Hon. Robert French AC has had significant involvement in Indigenous affairs, notably serving as the first President of the Native Title Tribunal. He was one of the founders of the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia and served as Inaugural Chairman. Click here to read his formal address upon being made our patron on 11th December 2014.

Our Board of Advisors

Our Board are a group of distinguished individuals who offer us their expertise in medicine, research and business.

Frank is an infectious disease and sexual health physician. He is the former Director of the National Committee supervising the elimination of Donovanosis from Australia, and is continuing research into the control of infectious diseases through public health principles.

Hugh’s research into the causes and prevention of blindness led to him working with Fred Hollows, as well as 13 years spent with the John Hopkins University. His current focus is on Aboriginal eye health, and the elimination of Trachoma.

As Director of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Jonathan’s research has revealed a link between streptococcus skin infections and the potentially fatal rheumatic heart disease. In 2008 he received the Northern Territory’s Australian of the Year award.

Brian Schmidt is the Vice-Chancellor of The Australian National University.He formed the High-Z SN search team who won Science Magazine’s ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ in 1998. In 2011 he won a Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking research on supernovae and the expansion of the universe.

Ngiare is a proud Yuin nation woman from the south coast of NSW. She is a senior Aboriginal medical practitioner with qualifications in medicine, public health and primary care, and has studied bioethics, medical law and human rights. She was the first identified Aboriginal medical graduate from NSW, and was one of the first Aboriginal doctors in Australia.

Our Steering Committee

Our Steering Committee is a group of experts in infectious disease, dermatology and Indigenous health who offer their input and guidance to our Healthy Skin Program.

Prof. Bart Currie - Infectious disease physician at Royal Darwin Hospital and Director at Menzies School of Health Research

Dr Vicki Krause - Northern Territory Centre for Disease Control

Dr Lucas de Toca - Miwatj Aboriginal Health Corporation

Mr Eddie Mulholland - Miwatj Aboriginal Health Corporation

Prof. Christine Connors - Top End Health Services

Ms Rhonda Powell - Northern Territory Department of Health

Mr Ray Matthews - Malabam Health Board Aboriginal Corporation

Dr Simon Quilty - Katherine District Hospital

Our CEO

Michele Bray

Michele has over 15 years of experience in business, specialising in marketing and communications. Michele started as a volunteer with One Disease three years ago, passionate about all Australians having the same start in life. Having worked both in Australia and overseas, she's excited to bring her business rigour and communications insight to Indigenous aid.

Our Ambassadors

Greg Inglis is a professional rugby league football player and Captain of the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He is of Aboriginal descent, of the Dungutti tribe from the North coast of NSW. Greg became involved with One Disease when he heard about the #inkforgood campaign. He felt so compelled to raise awareness of the scabies issue in remote Indigenous communities that he permanently inked himself with the #inkforgood partnership tattoo.

Karla, a proud woman of the Arrernte people, is the Executive Producer and host of Australia’s award-winning and longest running Indigenous current affairs show Living Black. With over two decades of media experience, Karla has dedicated a huge part of her career to working in Indigenous news and current affairs. With a career at SBS spanning 20 years as presenter, producer, reporter and director of the Walkley award-winning ICAM (Indigenous Current Affairs Magazine) program, Karla is also currently Executive Producer of the network’s Indigenous Media Unit, where she developed Living Black. Karla became involved with #inkforgood by getting a tattoo to show her commitment to eliminating scabies from remote communities.

Samantha Harris is an Australian fashion model of Indigenous, Dutch, English and German heritage. She has featured prominently in a number of shows including Australian Fashion Week 2010, featuring on the cover of Vogue that same year and Miss Vogue in 2013. Additionally she has appeared in campaigns for numerous international brands such as Miu Miu. Samantha was a contestant in the 5th season of Australia’s Dancing with the Stars, choosing One Disease and our campaign #inkforgood as her charity of choice.

Janis came on board with One Disease as an ambassador for #inkforgood campaign. Janis, a true everyday hero, likewise showed his commitment to our cause by getting permanently inked. He has been a firefighter for 10 years, keeping our country safe through bushfires. As a child growing up in Canberra, Janis took Indigenous Studies at school though it wasn’t until he captained the Balmain Football Club, which had some terrific young Indigenous players on it, that he became acutely aware of some of the issues facing Indigenous Australians in remote communities, such as scabies.

The Hon Justice Melissa Perry was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia in 2013. She practiced at the Bar from 1992 to 2013, being appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2004. Melissa's areas of expertise include constitutional law, native title and human rights and she holds both an LLM and PhD in public international law from the University of Cambridge. Melissa is a member of the Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity, a Fellow and former Director of the Australian Academy of Law, a Squadron Leader with the Royal Australian Air Force, Legal Specialist Reserves.

Rohan is a barrister working at the Sixth Floor of Selborne Chambers in Sydney. He has previously worked as an associate to Chief Justice Robert French AC at the National Native Title Tribunal and as an associate to Justice Dyson Heydon AC at the High Court of Australia. He completed his D Phil in Law at Oxford University, covering legal rights and medical research. Rohan brings a wealth of experience across law, business and medical research to improving the delivery of health services to Indigenous communities.